IG Immobilien brings BAWAG P.S.K. to the centre of Villach

Hauptplatz, the central square in Villach, is known as the hub of the city and has recently gained an important new service provider: on 1 August, BAWAG P.S.K. opened a new branch on Hauptplatz 22. The owner and landlord of the business premises is IG Immobilien – leading player in the field of constructing, operating and managing real estate.

Another upgrade for Villach city centre: the financial service provider BAWAG P.S.K. has opened its new main branch on Hauptplatz 22. The bank is open for business 24/7 with a self-service zone and personal consultation area. Before the bank opened, the commercial space on the ground floor was completely refurbished. For BAWAG P.S.K., the attractive location and generous commercial space were crucial for renting the property at this prominent address. “The Villach location is a great asset for BAWAG P.S.K. We simply had to invest in this location and open one of our new design branches here. Our new branch concept puts first-class advice, pooled knowledge and the financial wellbeing of our customers at the heart of everything we do,” explains Werner Rodax, Head of Private and Business Customer Services at BAWAG P.S.K.

Hermann Klein, Managing Director at IG Immobilien, is pleased with the new tenant: “BAWAG P.S.K. is important for the Villach infrastructure and contributes to the liveliness of the city centre.”

One building, two sides, a lot of history

“You wouldn’t think it with the modern facade, but the building on Hauptplatz 22 is actually steeped in history,” says Hermann Klein, Managing Director at IG Immobilien. The origins of the house can be traced back to the 18th century. At that time, the three-storey house consisted of five vaulted shops, a spacious cellar and three stables for a total of 25 horses. Behind the house, there was a garden and a bowling alley. The building changed hands several times over the decades. At one time, it was home to a coffee house and, later, the department store Warmuth moved in. In World War II, the building and almost the entire main square of Villach were destroyed by aerial bombs. Only the pillared arcades in the courtyard remained partially intact and are preserved to this day. The section of the house facing the square was rebuilt in 1955. The new building was adapted to the needs of the Warmuth department store, which reopened in its original location. In 1997, the house was finally bought by IG Immobilien and given a complete overhaul. Today, it is home to four apartments and a commercial space.